The football world mourns the loss of iconic Romanian manager Mircea Lucescu, who has passed away at the age of 80, just five days after stepping down from his role as head coach of the Romanian national team.
Lucescu resigned on Thursday after falling ill prior to a training session. He later received hospital treatment following reports that he suffered a heart attack on Friday morning.
“The Romanian Football Federation expresses its boundless regret following the death of the one who was, is and will remain an absolute legend: Mircea Lucescu,” the federation said in a statement. “Our football loses not only a brilliant tactician, but a mentor, a visionary, and a national symbol who carried the tricolour to the highest peaks of global success.”
Lucescu first managed Romania from 1981 to 1986 before returning for a second stint in 2024. His final match in charge was a 1-0 playoff defeat to Turkey on 26 March, which ended Romania’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Over a remarkable 47-year managerial career that began at Corvinul Hunedoara, Lucescu also took the reins at Inter Milan, Galatasaray, Besiktas, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg, Dynamo Kyiv, and the Turkish national team.
“We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of Mircea Lucescu, the winning manager of our UEFA Super Cup and 15th Turkish league titles. Rest in peace Luce, we will never forget you,” Galatasaray posted on X.
Inter Milan said: “The entire Inter family mourn the passing of Mircea Lucescu and extend heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.”
As a player, Lucescu earned 64 caps for Romania and captained his country at the 1970 World Cup.
“It is a black day for Romania and for world football. A man who lived through and for football in every second of his existence has left us,” said Romanian Football Federation president Razvan Burleanu. “Mircea Lucescu was not just a coach, but a life teacher for entire generations of players. He was a man who loved this sport more than anything in life, and his impact on our football is immeasurable.”
